K-5, what focus mode for moving objects?

mikknu · 03-27-2012, 03:36 AM

As the title suggests, what focus mode would you use for moving objects, such as mountain bikers, and why?
I've used single point myself (selected AF), but I do end up with a fair bit of 'slightly out of focus' pictures so I was wondering what you guys use.

//Mikael

westmill · 03-27-2012, 04:55 AM

I would use multi point AF because using the centre only will be bouncing all over the place
and you would need to keep your subject in the centre which make compostion more dificult. Alternativly... for single shots I would use manual focus and pre focus on a spot in readyness.

Deiberson · 03-27-2012, 09:47 AM - **1 Like**

as a photographer, cyclist and skier i recommend.....

AF/ 5point /and continuous.

geezer52 · 03-27-2012, 01:04 PM

I Agree w/ Deiberson, - AF/5 point/Continuous

I'm usually shooting skydivers landing which can be fast moving. I usually use AV mode set to F8. F8 is the sweet spot for many lenses and offers enough depth of field so focus can be slightly off and you still get a usable photo. In bright sun the shutter speed will still be fast enough to capture the action without blurring even at low ISO. I only worry about the ISO in darker settings where I might set the ISO at 800 (more or less depending) to keep the K5 at F8 and still have a fast enough shutter speed. The K5's sensor is good enough so that using a higher ISO doesn't diminish the IQ much if at all.

gebco · 03-27-2012, 02:31 PM

+1

I use the same settings for sports shots of my kids.

Originally posted by Deiberson

as a photographer, cyclist and skier i recommend.....

AF/ 5point /and continuous.

kenafein · 03-27-2012, 02:40 PM

What about SR? Do you guys turn it off? Have you noticed a difference on the continuous drive?

RonHendriks1966 · 03-27-2012, 02:47 PM

Well I think it also depends on the movement (speed and direction) to wich way of using your camera (AF/focuspoints/SR).

There is no One-size-fits-all solution.

westmill · 03-27-2012, 03:07 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by kenafein

What about SR? Do you guys turn it off? Have you noticed a difference on the continuous drive?

Since your shooting fast moving objects you will most likely be shooting high shutter speeds to freeze the movement so SR is best left off.
Also... SR doesnt like shooting in quick sequence and needs a couple of seconds to settle for each shot.
You can also try panning techniuqes to try for different kind of images and you can have fun experimenting with that too.

westmill · 03-27-2012, 03:21 PM - **1 Like**

Also, wether you use 5 point or eleven point autofucus is more down to your subject matter. For example.... 5 point is better for say tracking an individual rider
but if its a group I would use the full 11 points. I cover a lot of the horse racing and I use 11 points because you never Know which horse is going to come over
the fence first and its a wide spread group. With the K5 you could opt to use TAV too. Set your shutter speed to about 500sec aprature to about 5.6-8 and let the camera choose your ISO to suit. Nothing is a substitute for experience though. So just use this info as a starting point and enjoy.

cbope · 03-28-2012, 05:00 AM - **1 Like**

When I use auto AF, I prefer 5-point versus 11-point. As some have noticed, the outer AF sensors are much less accurate (sensitive?) than the inner or center sensors. Using 5-point AF effectively switches off the less-accurate outer sensors.

kenafein · 03-28-2012, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by westmill

Since your shooting fast moving objects you will most likely be shooting high shutter speeds to freeze the movement so SR is best left off.
Also... SR doesnt like shooting in quick sequence and needs a couple of seconds to settle for each shot.
You can also try panning techniuqes to try for different kind of images and you can have fun experimenting with that too.

How does in lens stabilization fare in these conditions? Would a sigma 70-200 OS be worth the premium over the tamron? The tripod is of course king, but it is not always practical.

**dcmsox2004** · 03-28-2012, 08:30 AM

great post... great tips... thanks !! dave m

joe.penn · 03-28-2012, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by mikknu

K-5, what focus mode for moving objects?

Without a doubt, Manual Focus for anything moving faster than a kid. I love Pentax, however, I am not aware of any other AutoFocus system worse than the Pentax system for moving objects.

westmill · 03-28-2012, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by kenafein

How does in lens stabilization fare in these conditions? Would a sigma 70-200 OS be worth the premium over the tamron? The tripod is of course king, but it is not always practical.

Sorry I couldnt say about the tamron version since Ive never used one with OS.
I just know on the Nikon VR lenses, when I have accidently left them turned on there didnt seem to be any adverse affects.
I would expect this is because its done in lens rather than camera body but I cant say its a fact.

kenafein · 03-28-2012, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by westmill

Sorry I couldnt say about the tamron version since Ive never used one with OS.
I just know on the Nikon VR lenses, when I have accidently left them turned on there didnt seem to be any adverse affects.
I would expect this is because its done in lens rather than camera body but I cant say its a fact.

Well then, if what Nikon claims is true, and Sigma reverse engineered/stole their VR technology then a Sigma might hold up. The Tamron does not have OS at all, but it costs half what the Sigma does and seems to have a better reputation optically.

03-27-2012, 03:36 AM	#1
mikknu Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Silkeborg, Denmark Posts: 82	K-5, what focus mode for moving objects? As the title suggests, what focus mode would you use for moving objects, such as mountain bikers, and why? I've used single point myself (selected AF), but I do end up with a fair bit of 'slightly out of focus' pictures so I was wondering what you guys use. //Mikael

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03-27-2012, 04:55 AM	#2
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	I would use multi point AF because using the centre only will be bouncing all over the place and you would need to keep your subject in the centre which make compostion more dificult. Alternativly... for single shots I would use manual focus and pre focus on a spot in readyness.

03-27-2012, 09:47 AM - 1 Like	#3
Deiberson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 734	as a photographer, cyclist and skier i recommend..... AF/ 5point /and continuous.

03-27-2012, 01:04 PM	#4
geezer52 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: High Desert, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 231	I Agree w/ Deiberson, - AF/5 point/Continuous I'm usually shooting skydivers landing which can be fast moving. I usually use AV mode set to F8. F8 is the sweet spot for many lenses and offers enough depth of field so focus can be slightly off and you still get a usable photo. In bright sun the shutter speed will still be fast enough to capture the action without blurring even at low ISO. I only worry about the ISO in darker settings where I might set the ISO at 800 (more or less depending) to keep the K5 at F8 and still have a fast enough shutter speed. The K5's sensor is good enough so that using a higher ISO doesn't diminish the IQ much if at all.

03-27-2012, 02:31 PM	#5
gebco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Winnipeg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 329	+1 I use the same settings for sports shots of my kids. Originally posted by Deiberson as a photographer, cyclist and skier i recommend..... AF/ 5point /and continuous.

03-27-2012, 02:40 PM	#6
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	What about SR? Do you guys turn it off? Have you noticed a difference on the continuous drive?

03-27-2012, 02:47 PM	#7
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well I think it also depends on the movement (speed and direction) to wich way of using your camera (AF/focuspoints/SR). There is no One-size-fits-all solution.

03-27-2012, 03:07 PM - 1 Like	#8
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Originally posted by kenafein What about SR? Do you guys turn it off? Have you noticed a difference on the continuous drive? Since your shooting fast moving objects you will most likely be shooting high shutter speeds to freeze the movement so SR is best left off. Also... SR doesnt like shooting in quick sequence and needs a couple of seconds to settle for each shot. You can also try panning techniuqes to try for different kind of images and you can have fun experimenting with that too.

03-27-2012, 03:21 PM - 1 Like	#9
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Also, wether you use 5 point or eleven point autofucus is more down to your subject matter. For example.... 5 point is better for say tracking an individual rider but if its a group I would use the full 11 points. I cover a lot of the horse racing and I use 11 points because you never Know which horse is going to come over the fence first and its a wide spread group. With the K5 you could opt to use TAV too. Set your shutter speed to about 500sec aprature to about 5.6-8 and let the camera choose your ISO to suit. Nothing is a substitute for experience though. So just use this info as a starting point and enjoy.

03-28-2012, 05:00 AM - 1 Like	#10
cbope Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Helsinki Posts: 664	When I use auto AF, I prefer 5-point versus 11-point. As some have noticed, the outer AF sensors are much less accurate (sensitive?) than the inner or center sensors. Using 5-point AF effectively switches off the less-accurate outer sensors.

03-28-2012, 08:05 AM	#11
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Originally posted by westmill Since your shooting fast moving objects you will most likely be shooting high shutter speeds to freeze the movement so SR is best left off. Also... SR doesnt like shooting in quick sequence and needs a couple of seconds to settle for each shot. You can also try panning techniuqes to try for different kind of images and you can have fun experimenting with that too. How does in lens stabilization fare in these conditions? Would a sigma 70-200 OS be worth the premium over the tamron? The tripod is of course king, but it is not always practical.

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03-28-2012, 08:30 AM	#12
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	great post... great tips... thanks !! dave m

03-28-2012, 08:44 AM	#13
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by mikknu K-5, what focus mode for moving objects? Without a doubt, Manual Focus for anything moving faster than a kid. I love Pentax, however, I am not aware of any other AutoFocus system worse than the Pentax system for moving objects.

03-28-2012, 01:14 PM	#14
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Originally posted by kenafein How does in lens stabilization fare in these conditions? Would a sigma 70-200 OS be worth the premium over the tamron? The tripod is of course king, but it is not always practical. Sorry I couldnt say about the tamron version since Ive never used one with OS. I just know on the Nikon VR lenses, when I have accidently left them turned on there didnt seem to be any adverse affects. I would expect this is because its done in lens rather than camera body but I cant say its a fact.

03-28-2012, 01:18 PM	#15
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Originally posted by westmill Sorry I couldnt say about the tamron version since Ive never used one with OS. I just know on the Nikon VR lenses, when I have accidently left them turned on there didnt seem to be any adverse affects. I would expect this is because its done in lens rather than camera body but I cant say its a fact. Well then, if what Nikon claims is true, and Sigma reverse engineered/stole their VR technology then a Sigma might hold up. The Tamron does not have OS at all, but it costs half what the Sigma does and seems to have a better reputation optically.